Knowing he could possibly end up in any number of courtrooms - family court, county court and civil court among them - he quietly took his place among 371 other citizens at about 8 a.m.

They'd all been summoned to 1201 Congress to be considered to possibly sit on juries.

But as they were funneled off toward various courts, Bunin got an inkling there might be a problem coming when he was directed to stand outside the 351st State District Court, which handles felony criminal matters.

It was there that Bunin's office had a client, who was accused of burglary and to face trial that same morning.

As the head of the public defender's office, the defendant was technically Bunin's client. And the defense lawyer was Bunin's employee.

"This is unusual," he said later Friday. "This never happens."

Bunin jokingly said to himself that he wasn't sure who would want him out of the pool faster: the prosecutors who wouldn't think he'd be an impartial juror or the defense lawyer who wouldn't want his boss staring at him throughout a trial.

He thought to himself that either way, there would be no way he'd end up on the jury.

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He texted his staff, who contacted the judge. After a brief huddle, Bunin was excused.

It was also 24 years ago that Bunin had another unique jury twist.

He was summoned to be in a jury pool the very same day he was scheduled, as a private defense lawyer, to represent a woman at trial.

Fearing a scheduling conflict, the judge had Bunin dismissed from the jury pool. But fate would still keep him out of the courtroom.

The next morning, as the trial was to proceed, Bunin's wife went into labor and gave birth to their son, Gus. His 24th birthday was Friday.